Senator John Fetterman, D-Pa., has sharply criticized New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, calling him a "clown" for expressing interest in arresting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The remarks come as Mamdani's administration explores the city's legal authority to detain Netanyahu should he visit New York for the United Nations General Assembly in September.
Mamdani has stated he would seek Netanyahu's arrest, citing the International Criminal Court's (ICC) November 2024 arrest warrant that accuses the prime minister of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to Israel's conflict with Hamas. Netanyahu denies the allegations, and Israel disputes the ICC's jurisdiction.
Fetterman, speaking on "Sunday Morning Futures," dismissed Mamdani's stance, emphasizing that the United States is not a party to the Rome Statute, which established the ICC, and does not recognize the court's jurisdiction over U.S. or Israeli officials. "America's not even part of that corrupt court," Fetterman stated.
He suggested Mamdani focus on issues within New York City, saying, "Sit down and focus on other... problems that they have in New York. That's really not your purview. You and I know that. Sit down."
Fetterman has positioned himself as a strong defender of Israel within the Democratic Party and has been critical of progressive elements within the party that he believes are moving away from longstanding support for Israel. He has previously indicated that a shift in the Democratic Party's platform to adopt anti-Israel stances could cause him to reconsider his own party affiliation.